Variation of Leachate Quality in Pilot Scale Landfill Bioreactors Containing Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage

Abstract
Pilot scale landfill bioreactors containing municipal solid waste and sewage sludge were operated for 420 days to investigate the effect of sewage
sludge and geotextile filters on the quality of leachate. Reactors R1 and R2 contained sewage sludge but the other reactors contained only municipal
solid waste. A geotextile filter was also inserted in the drainage layers of R2, R3 and R4 to see if there was any improvement in the leachate quality
due to the geotextile filter. After 420 days of operation, COD removal rates for R1, R2, R3 and R4 were 88.1%, 92.42%, 89.7%, and 92.4%
respectively. BOD5 removal rates for all reactors were above 97%.

Key words Solid waste, landfill bioreactors, leachate, geotextile filter